RismadarVoice Reporters
September 25, 2026
Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi has pledged to spend his holidays in Nigeria if elected President in 2027, while criticising President Bola Tinubu’s extended stay abroad.
Obi spoke on Thursday in Asaba, Delta State, during the inauguration of the NDC secretariat, where he also promised to prioritise Nigeria’s healthcare system and discourage political office holders from seeking medical treatment abroad except on referral.
“We will ensure that those of them who are in power must seek medical care here. Anybody that will go abroad will be for referral,” Obi said.
Turning to presidential travel, the former Anambra State governor referred to Tinubu’s stay in France and argued that Nigerian leaders should remain more connected to developments at home.
“Today, our President is in France. He went for three weeks, and he has spent more than three weeks,” Obi said.
“As President of Nigeria, all my holidays will be in Nigeria. I will go to Agbor for holiday; I will go to Warri for holidays, not France.”
The Presidency has described Tinubu’s stay in France as part of a working vacation, saying he remained in contact with officials while abroad.
Beyond healthcare and presidential travel, Obi used the occasion to address development in the Niger Delta, arguing that the region should experience greater benefits from the resources it contributes to the Nigerian economy.
He said an NDC administration would seek to ensure that oil-producing communities see a more visible impact from the wealth generated in their region.
“One thing that I can assure you is that the days you don’t see the impact of your wealth are gone. Niger Delta must see the impact of the wealth it is creating for the nation,” he said.
Obi also criticised the condition of roads and other infrastructure across the region, saying the situation did not reflect the Niger Delta’s contribution to national revenue.
He pledged that, if elected, his administration would place greater emphasis on transparency in the management of public resources.
“We will ensure that this will change, and it will change by the way we manage the resources; it will change because we are going to be transparent. We will tell you where every penny is going to,” Obi said.
The remarks came as political parties and presidential candidates intensify activities ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general election.
